Lyme disease, also called Lyme borreliosis is a bacterial infection that is spread by ticks. Bacteria causing this disease are of the borrelia type. The disease is spread to humans through bites by the causative ticks. These ticks get the bacterium by biting other infected animals like deer and mice. However, not all ticks carry the bacterium causing Lyme disease. Most common diseases have their methods of treatment and cure. Due to the increasing spread and illnesses, more research has been done on the cure of Lyme disease. Answer to the question; is there a cure for lyme disease?
After the tick gets attached to you, it takes around 36 to 48 hour to pass the infection to your body. Removal of these ticks is not possible due to their small size making them difficult to recognize. In addition to that, the ticks hide in difficult-to see areas such as the armpits, groin and the scalp regions. Erythema migrans, a reddish area that starts as a rash and expands is the first signal of infection. It usually occurs one week after being bitten. The area won't be painful or itchy.
Other symptoms that may follow include fevers, headaches and feeling tired. Within the body, joints, face, neck, muscles and even the heart may be affected by this infection. These lead to the said signs and symptoms in addition to muscle pains and neck stiffness. It may also lead to meningeal inflammation in the brain. Diagnosis of this disorder is usually based on the above symptoms. Blood test is however the officially confirmatory means of diagnosing it.
There is a possibility to recover from this disease. Chances however, are increased with early detection of this disorder. Late diagnosis may lead to other complications that may not be fully resolved. Seeking early treatment is therefore vital to avoid all these.
Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotic therapy. Doxycycline, which is considered as the first line therapy, is commonly used for treatment. Apart from the advantage of curing the disease, Doxycycline also has the advantage of curing all other infections of tick origin. Due to its adverse effects, it is not advisable for use in children particularly less than eight years and expectant women.
Amoxicillin and azithromycin, also antibiotics, act as second line medications for treating the disorder. They are effective when administered either orally or intravenously. The period of treatment varies and usually ranges from one week to four weeks to completely eliminate the disorder. This duration is however determined by the severity of the disease process. It has been proved that starting the treatment within the first two weeks of infection is effective but this is not possible since the bacteria can be visualized in blood for diagnosis after five weeks.
Preventing any disorder is more economical than curing it. Preventing Lyme disorder would be wise therefore than treating it. Several means to prevent the disease have been put up. Vaccination proved more effective than the other protective means. The production of particular vaccines stopped because of limited market available.
Others include putting on protective clothes and light colored clothes. Such ensures protection from being bitten and ensures easy visibility of the tick respectively. Keeping off long grass, use of repellents and avoiding deer and mice contacts are the other protective ways.
After the tick gets attached to you, it takes around 36 to 48 hour to pass the infection to your body. Removal of these ticks is not possible due to their small size making them difficult to recognize. In addition to that, the ticks hide in difficult-to see areas such as the armpits, groin and the scalp regions. Erythema migrans, a reddish area that starts as a rash and expands is the first signal of infection. It usually occurs one week after being bitten. The area won't be painful or itchy.
Other symptoms that may follow include fevers, headaches and feeling tired. Within the body, joints, face, neck, muscles and even the heart may be affected by this infection. These lead to the said signs and symptoms in addition to muscle pains and neck stiffness. It may also lead to meningeal inflammation in the brain. Diagnosis of this disorder is usually based on the above symptoms. Blood test is however the officially confirmatory means of diagnosing it.
There is a possibility to recover from this disease. Chances however, are increased with early detection of this disorder. Late diagnosis may lead to other complications that may not be fully resolved. Seeking early treatment is therefore vital to avoid all these.
Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotic therapy. Doxycycline, which is considered as the first line therapy, is commonly used for treatment. Apart from the advantage of curing the disease, Doxycycline also has the advantage of curing all other infections of tick origin. Due to its adverse effects, it is not advisable for use in children particularly less than eight years and expectant women.
Amoxicillin and azithromycin, also antibiotics, act as second line medications for treating the disorder. They are effective when administered either orally or intravenously. The period of treatment varies and usually ranges from one week to four weeks to completely eliminate the disorder. This duration is however determined by the severity of the disease process. It has been proved that starting the treatment within the first two weeks of infection is effective but this is not possible since the bacteria can be visualized in blood for diagnosis after five weeks.
Preventing any disorder is more economical than curing it. Preventing Lyme disorder would be wise therefore than treating it. Several means to prevent the disease have been put up. Vaccination proved more effective than the other protective means. The production of particular vaccines stopped because of limited market available.
Others include putting on protective clothes and light colored clothes. Such ensures protection from being bitten and ensures easy visibility of the tick respectively. Keeping off long grass, use of repellents and avoiding deer and mice contacts are the other protective ways.
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